Refrigerating apparatus.



C. M. GAY.

REFRIGERATING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 18. 1912.

2 SHEETSSHEET l.

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REFRIGERATING APPARATUS.

APPLlCATlON FILED NOV. 18, I912.

mmma. Patented Oct. 12, 1915 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

rnvi rE s'raras Paris NT men CASSIUS M. GAY; or Los ANGn EscALIFoRNIA.

\ anrmennamue Am AaArUsf 7 To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GASSIUS M. GAY, a citizen of the United States, residing at Los Angeles, in'the county of Los Angeles, State of californi'a have invented certain new and useful Improvements inRefrIgerating Apparatus, of which the following is a description, reference being had to the accompanying drawlng, and to 10 the figures of reference markdthereon.

The invention relates to certai'n'new and useful'irnprov'ements in a refrigerating app'aratus, and more particularly to devices of this character wherein the refrigeratlve effeet is produced by the evaporating of water by a current ofair passing over moistened surfaces. a

An object of the invention i's to PIOVldG a. refrigerating apparatus wherein the fair circulating over the moistened surfaces 1s desiccated before it reaches the evaporative surfaces,- where the final evaporation and, cooling is effected. Q A further object of the invention is 'to provide'means in an apparatus of the above character for desiccating or dehydrating the air at atmospheric pressure andexpandmg the same over the moistened surfaces where the final evaporation-and cooling is effected. A still further object of the invention is to provide an apparatus of the above character wherein the air which is passed over the moistened surfaces for the final evaporation and cooling of the apparatus is first dehydrated by cooling the same as it passes through a chamber, the walls of which are moistened and subjected to a current of'air. A still further object of the invention is to provide an apparatus of the above character wherein the air expelled from the refrigerating apparatus may be utilized for causing a circulation of the air through the auxiliary dehydrating device used fomcooling the air passing through the moistened surfaces, where the final evaporation and cool ing is effected. v v V k Theseand other objects will in part be obvious, and will in part be hereinafter In the drawings, whichrshow by way of illustration "one embodimentof the invention, Figure 1 is avertical. sectional view through a refrigerator, and an auxiliary dehydrating chamber embodying my invention; Fig. 2 is a side view of the same.

which is tween the inner dry air passes to I imperforate, I tioned. The

. g h I i I Spujeifieation of Letters Patent: -Pa,tented Oct, 12, 1915, Application fiieq Novemberis, 1912. Seria11 lo.731,987. v

a c t .The inner shell is lined or covered on its outer surface with an absorbent material,--

supplied with" moisture. Air is causedto circulate in a-space between said inner and, outer shells. "This air -is drawn I from the refrigerator pump. The supply pipe through which. the

by a suitable air air passes to the refrigerator is-formed with a suitable valve,

' coolingfthe refrigerator. p p

. g The invention consists furtherin providing an auxiliary dehydrating or refrigeratwhich are substantially imperforate.

whereby the air. space be-' andv outer" shells may bef maintained at slightly less than atmos the air will expand ing devicefor desiccating or dehydrating the air which is. utilized in the refrigerator evaporation and cooling of the same. This ,box or chamber proper, ,for effecting the auxiliary dehydrator consists of inner I and outerlcasing in which the inner casing,

is covered on its outer face: with an absorbent material, suitably moistened, and air is caused to circulate between said inner and outer casings by an ejector operated b'y the air discharged from the main refrigerator box or chamber.

-- The air utilized for evapfl 'orating moisture'in said main refrigerator passes through the inner casing of the auxiliary dehydrator, where it is'cooled and the moisture contained therein collected "on the surfaces of the "casing,vso that substantially the refrigerator propen. Referring more in detail to the drawing,

preferably of ered on its outer; surface with asbestos, or

- some othersuitable 'absorbent'material, indicatedat 3. This absorbent material is' roarated so as to form' an casings are ve5 my improved apparatus consistsof a main consisting .m'ner shell 1 is constructed galvanized iron, and, 1s cov vided withflmoisture throu h su l 1 es :4 and 5. The inner aifi out r shell 3 1 585 1 air space 6. A par- 'tition 7 is located centrally of the outer casing, and terminates short of the bottom of above mentioned.

the casing, so as to dividejthe air space 6, whereby the air is caused to circulate entirely about the inner casing. The moisture supplied through the pipe 1 is directed to the casing at one side ofthe partition 7, while the moisture supplied through the pipe 5 is directed to the other side of the casing. lated by suitable valves indicated at 8. At the lower part of the outer casing 2 1s a drain pipe 9, which is bent laterally and thence upwardly, as at 10, in order to form a suitable water seal. Air is delivered to the air space 6 through a pipe 11, and is withdrawn from the air space by a suitable exhaust fan or pump through a pipe 12. The

receiving pipe is on one side of the partition 7 and the discharge pipe on the other.

Therefore, the air passing through said outer shell orcasing will pass entirely about the. inner shell or casing before it leaves through the discharge pipe. As above noted, the outer shell or casing is imperforate, except for the proper openings for the pipes The exhaust-fan or pump fan or pump casing 13, and

is located in the be operated by a suitsaid fan or pump may able motor, located in a motor casing 1a.

The air is discharged from the pump through a pipe 15. v I

a In order that the storage compartmentformed by the inner shell may be suitably ventilated, I have provided a by-pass pipe 1 16, which leads from the main pipe 11, and

absorbent covering 23.

the inner and outer shells,

V drical casing 20,

a suitable valve 17 controls said by-pass pipe. This pipe 16 extends throughboth and will deliver a certain .amount of air to said inner compartment. The opposite side of said inner shell or casing is formed 18, which may be controlled by a sultable valve 19. This forms an outlet for the air delivered to the refrigerating compartment,

so that the same may be suitably ventilated. It will, of course, be understood that the, proper doors are provided, whereby access may be had to -said inner storage'comparb ment.

The'air which is passed to the main refrigerating box or chamber is first passed through an auxiliary dehydratingor refrigcrating device, consisting of an inner cylinand an outer cylindrical is spaced therefrom, so as 22. This inner casouter .fac'e'with an Moisture is delivered to said absorbent covering through a pipe 24:, which is controlled by a .valve'25. At the upper end of the outer casing 21 is a 'pipe 26, whichis formed with a rightangle branch '27 and the pipe 15 has its discharge end tapered so as to restrict the delivering area thereof, and this tapered end extends into said delivering pipe, so as to casing 21, which to form an a r-passage ing is provlded on its The amount of moisture is regupipe 11 extends shaped battle with an opening evaporation of the moisture in the absorbent or porous covering on the inner casing, which will cool the same and the inner chamber 28 formed by said inner casing 20. The through the upper end of the outer casing 21, and connects with the chamber '28. Located centrally of the chamber 28 is a tube 29, to which is attached coneshaped bafile plates 30. Between the coneplates 30 are baflie plates 31, which are,similarly shaped, but which are connected to the inner wall of the inner casing 20. These baffle plates will cause the air passing up through the chamber 28 to be thrown against the wall of the inner casing, where it will be cooled and dried, and the moisture contained in the air will collect on said baffle plates and the inner wall of said cooled chamber. The water thus cooled will drain into the receptacles formed by the bafiie plates 30, and the pipe is preferably perforated, so as to drain these receptacles and allow the water to pass out of the lower end of the pipe. The conveying pipe 11 is provided with asuitable valve 32, whereby the amount of air supplied relative to the amount of air exhausted may be varied, and thus pressure within the air space 60f the main refrigerating box or chamber may be held slightly, below atmospheric pressure, and the air delivered through the. pipe 11 will, therefore, expand as it enters said air space 6.

- The operationof my refrigerating apparatus is as follows: The absorbent coverings of the main refrigerating chamber and the auxiliary refrigerating device are suitably moistened, as above noted. The exhaust fan or pump in thechamber' 13 is started, which operates to lower the pressure between the imperforate casings 1 and 2 of the main refrigerating device. The'air so exhausted by the fan or pump is vdischarged through the pipe 15, and the ejector formed at the end thereof, which causes a current-of air to be drawn through the annular air passage 22 between the inner and outer cyli'nders or casings of the dehydrator. This air passing over the moistened outer surface of the inner casing 20, and the atmospheric pressure cools the air within said casing and dries the same by subjecting said air to a low temperature at atmospheric pressure. If the atmospheric air is close to the dew point, the cooled surface of the inner cylinder will precipitate the moisture, and thus the air becomes dehydrated or desiccated before it passes the valve 32. The air, after passing the valve 32, will expand'as the pressure in'the air space 6, is somewhat below atmospheric pressure, and this expansion of the air which comes in contact with the molstened surface on the inner casing of the main refrigerating deviCegreatly iI'1-.

creases itsevaporativeefficiency' I am able r thus to produce a multiplied effect of the refrigeration by first collecting and desiccating the air inthe dehydrator, and then 7 utilizing said dehydrated air expansively to produce evaporation in. the main refrigerating chamber. Furthermore, by my improved. apparatus, the refrigerating compartment is freely ventilated, which mate:-

rially aids inthe cooling thereof. 'It is to be understood thatthe apparatus specifically described herein contains one embodiment of the invention only, and that said apparatus may be varied in many'particulars, both as to details of construction and as to the arrangement of the parts without departing from the spirit of the in- .25 vention, as set forth in the appended claims.

vHaving thus described my invention, what I claim is:

1. A refrigerating apparatus including in combination innervand outer casings form= ing an air space between the same, said inner casing being adapted toform astorage compartment and having an absorbent material on its outer surface,

means for supplymg moisture to said absorbent material, a

dehydrator located outside of said outer caslng, a conveyer pipe connecting .said de-, hydrator to the air space between said casings and means fordrawing airthrough the dehydrator and ment. up r 2. A refrigerating apparatusincluding in combination inner and outer casings formabout said storage comparting an air space between the same, said inner casing being. adapted to form a storage com partment and having an absorbent .materialon its outer surface, means for supplying moisture to said absorbent material, a dehydratorlocated outside of said outer casing, a conveyer pipe connecting said dehydrator 0 to the. air space between, said casings and plying the air space between said inner and meansfor drawing air through the dehydrator and about said storage con'rlpartment,

said connecting means between the dehydrator and the air space having .a valve therein whereby the air passing the valve may be caused to expand as it comes in contact with said moistened surface. H

3. A refrigerating apparatus including in combination amain refrigerator having imperforate inner and outer casings, said inner casing having an absorbent material. on its outer surface, means for supplying moisture to said absorbent material, means for sup outer casings with desiccated air, and means for exhausting the air from said air space, whereby said air is caused to expand as it comes in contact with said moistened surface. i l.- A refrigerating apparatus including in combination a main refrigerator, having in- 'ner and outer casings, .said inner casing being separated from said outer casing to form an air space, and having an absorbent material on its outer surface, means for supplying moisture to said absorbent material, a conveyer pipe for directing air to said air space, means for supplying said conveyerpipe with desiccated ,air,-a valve in said conveyer pipe for regulating the supply, and an exhaust fan for withdrawing the, air from said air space, whereby said air. is caused to expand as it comes in contact with the moisturein said absorbent'material.

5. A'refrigerating apparatus including in combination a main refrigerator,- having inner and outer casings, said inner casing being separated from said outer casing to form an air space, and having an absorbent material on its outer surface, means for supplyingmoisture to said absorbent material, a conveyer pipe for directing airto said air space, avalve in said conveyer pipe for regulating the supply, for withdrawing theair from said air space, whereby said air is caused to expand as it comes'in contact with the moisture in said absorbent material, and an auxiliary refrigcrating apparatus for cooling and desiccating the airwhich passes through said con- Veyer pipe. v p

6. A refrigerating apparatusincluding in combination a main refrigerator, having inner and outer casings, said inner casing being separated from said outer casing to form an air space and having an absorbent material on its outer surface, means for supplying moisture to said absorbent material, a conveyer pipe for directing air to said air space, a valve in'Qsaid conveyer pipefor regulating the supply, and an exhaust fan for withdrawing the air from said air space, 'whereb said air is caused to expand as it comes in contact with the moisturejnsaid absorbent material, and an auxiliary refrigerating device connected with pipe for. desiccating the air, said auxiliary refrigerating device consisting of an inner and outer casing spaced, from each other and having an absorbent material on the outer surface of said inner casing, said conveyer pipe being connected tothe chamber and an exhaust fan' said conveyer formed by said inner casing, and means for circulating air between said inner and outer casings, and over said moistened surface on comes in contact with the moisture in said absorbent material, and an auxiliary refrigerating devlce connected with said conveyor pipe for deslccating the air, sa1d auxiliaryrefrigerating device consisting of an inner and outer "casing spaced from each other and having an absorbent material on the outer surface of sa1d 1nner caslng, sa1d conveyerpipe being connected to the chamber v formed by said inner casing, a pipe leading from said air space between the inner and outer casings of the auxiliary refrigerating device, and a pipe for utilizing the exhaust from said fan to form an ejector for drawing the air through saidlast named pipe, and the auxiliary refrigerating device.

8. A refrigerating apparatus including in combination a main refrigerator, having in- 4 ner and outer casings, said inner casing be ing separated from said outer casing to form an air space and havmg an absorbent ma-' terlal on its outer surface, means for supplying moisture space, a valve in said conveyer pipe for regulating the supply, an exhaust fan for Withdrawing the air from said air space, Whereby saidair is caused to expand as itcomes in contact with the moistureun said absorbent material, and an auxiliary refrigerating device connected With said conveyer pipe for desiccating the air, saidv auxiliary refrigerating device consisting of an inner and outer casing spaced from each other and having an absorbent material on the outer surface of said inner casing, said conveyer pipe being connected to the chamber formed by said inner casing, and means for circu: lating air between said inner and outer casings, and over said moistened surface on said outer casing, said inner casing of said auxiliary. refrigerating device having bafiie plates therein for directing the air to be desiccated against the cooled surface of said inner casing.

to said'absorbent material, a conveyer pipe for directing air to said air In testimony vvhereof, I affix my signature, in the presence of two Witnesses.

C A SSIUS M. GAY.

Witnesses: NORMAN H. GAY, FRANK C. SMITH. 

